Heres our list of highly likely places to spot an alligator while youre wandering the trails. . But, you dont even need to go inside to get a little taste of the fun. Immokalee. Longwood. The question of where to see alligators in Florida might be better phrased, where dont you see alligators in Florida? An elevated one-mile walkway guides visitors through Sawgrass Lake Park, a natural oasis in densely populated Pinellas County in St. Petersburg. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bucket List Journey gives every person in the world the tools and inspiration to live their bucket list one checkmark at a timefounded by Annette White. If they are though, send us a picture and well get it in the paper. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Hollywood. That might quality for an only in Florida label. Getting Around: Renting a car in Panama City Beach is the best to really experience the island and RentalCars.com has some great deals. In Panama, alligators are non-existent, with the exception of the caiman. You and your loved ones can also enjoy a picnic at designated areas while enjoying the ambiance of nature. Our transportation to the island was provided by Lagoon Pontoon. Florida Keys. Chipley. You can also try a wildlife helicopter tour if you want something a little different. Ormond Beach. And youll have plenty of places in captivity or the wild to choose from when you set out to observe some of the remaining creatures of the dinosaur age. Then it is just about 15-20 minutes to Panama City Beach You can easily check for the best fare deals at Skyscanner, which also has the option to choose cheapest month as the departure to find the lowest priced dates to fly to your destination. Carrabelle. Lake Kissimmee State Park, 15 miles east of Lake Wales, is an excellent place for campers, birders, paddlers and even RV lovers to get a taste of natural Florida, and that includes gator viewing. While youre waiting for your order, pop into their barista bar next door and order a Black Salt Mocha. The crystal clear waters of Pitt and Sylvan Springs is enough invitation to get in and take a swim. The same group of animals as crocodiles are called Caimans. Boynton Beach. Even my parents, two people I consider to be rather reasonable, made comments about alligators coming into the yard and how Id need to watch out for my cats. It is $34 per person for just a tour and $22 for children (ages 2-12). is the go-to place in Panama City Beach for those who want to explore the strange and unbelievable. will take you on a 2-hour cruise that swishes you through Grand Lagoon and onto the Gulf of Mexico in search for Flipper and his friends we saw plenty dolphins on our cruise! The Shark Valley entrance is on U.S. 41 Tamiami Trail, in Miami. I especially appreciate the tips like time-wait, etc. Sizes of the reptiles range from grunts to 14-foot monsters, all seen at the Breeding Marsh home. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Blountstown. Wakulla, south of Tallahassee, is one of the worlds largest and deepest freshwater springs. Explore Shell Island on your own time with your family and friends with one of our, well maintained, Shell Island Pontoon Boat Rentals. Airboats are very fast, and the breeze is usually enough to give you a bit of a chill, even in the summer sun. Founded in 1949, the amusement park is completely themed around the grinning cold-blooded killers: Gatorland boasts a Screamin Gator Zipline, Stompin Gator Off-Road Adventure, and Gator Jumparoo. Under the U.S. Get up close and personal with the wildlife at ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservatory. People love some good grub before hitting the beach, and the city has plenty of options. The Gator Lake Trail is short, clocking in at only .36 miles around. Its the perfect trip to take during the heat of the day to cool off! Nashville Bucket List: 30 Fun Things to do Downtown & BeyondKey West & Florida Keys Islands Bucket List: 45 BEST Things to DoBonita Springs Resort Hotel: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in FloridaHavanas Hippest Art Factory: Fabrica de Arte CubanoHavana Bucket List: 40 Things to Do In Cubas CapitalRacing an Americas Cup Sailing Boat Through the CaribbeanAn American Traveling to Havana: What You Need to KnowSwim with Manatees & Other Encounters in Floridas Crystal River, I will keep this in mind for Florida trip. They need access to fresh slow-moving waters in rivers and lakes. Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center, in Madeira Beach on Floridas west coast, is a smaller stop thats good for kids who want to give a gator a smooch, while Jungle Adventures, near Merritt Island on the Space Coast, features all sorts of Florida critters plus a jungle swamp river cruise. It's a loop, so you'll start out and end in the same place, crossing over an ancient dune and along the edge of the lake. And who doesnt love a fierce game of putt putt golf? Located just over one hour south of the Southwest Florida Airport in Fort Myers, Marco Island is also a popular destination for South Floridians that cut across Alligator Alley to enjoy the west coast. Big Cypress National Preserve. Web22. Charlotte Harbor. Fort Pierce. A visitor center will help you find the best places to spy the prehistoric beasts. Biscayne Bay. is a great choice if you are looking for more of a hotel than condo. But not literally, hopefully. Walt Disney World. Males can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh 800 pounds, with the largest ever recorded measuring 17.5 feet. Overseas Heritage Trail. of the animals on our farm. Then take the Shell Island Shuttle over to Shell Island and make your vacation a true family adventure! Also search some great deals on hotels of your choice at Booking.com. At five locations along the coast of west Florida, large ponds of baby gators are a big attraction. They have everything from the classic glazed to key lime filled. and the beach essentials. You can pay a small fee ($3) to be able to take the short stroll to the end. The company prides itself on its years of experience in the tourist industry. The exterior is built like an upside down building, and its worth at least a drive-by. If you grew up outside of Florida, you probably enjoyed a picnic beside a pond or a walk alongside a river. See, up North, there is a gross misconception about alligators. People love some good grub before hitting the beach, and the city has plenty of options. Port St. Joe. You will also get a chance to pet and feed cute baby alligators, as well as seeing adult alligators and other animals like bald eagles and herons. Lake Kissimmee, near Orlando, comes in second with just shy of 2,000. Lake Mary. Afterwards, ride a little further down the road and spend the rest of the day hanging out at one of America's best beaches. For example, the gator holes where they collect food and occasionally sleep, hold water in the dry season, creating places of refuge and sustenance for fish, insects, snakes, turtles and birds. And the cinnamon twist. The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team Gator Country Alligator Park, also known as Airboat Adventures, is a memorable experience for people of all ages. The prehistoric reptiles are an important part of the states ecosystem. Navarre Beach . Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. Wild Thang Airboat Tours: Awesome sunset alligator cruise! The word alligator derives from the Spanish word for lizard (el largarto) the term early settlers of Florida used when first coming across the predatory reptiles. Their Odditorium houses bizarre exhibits from around the globe that people of all ages will enjoy. Melbourne Beach. Started in 1957 as a roadside attraction to show tourists one of the two Florida experiences they wanted alligators! Hillsborough River State Park is natural respite close to Tampa and the urban sprawl of the area. Here, you can take tram tours and rent bicycles to ride on the paths. With so many things to do and attractions to see that make people come back each year, youll be making the best memories that you will cherish for years to come. Today, the 3,383-acre location is one of the best places to experience environmental diversity in particular, an abundance of alligators. 1:49 PANAMA CITY Florida, we need to talk. Crescent City. All rights reserved. When you arrive back at base, you will have the opportunity to witness a gator show with Bubba, their 7-foot alligator that has been trained by voice and hand commands. There are plenty of gators in the river, which runs through 57 square miles, but the truly adventurous take the easy five-mile round trip hike to Deep Hole, a sinkhole on the edge of the river that attracts dozens of gators. These guys are one of the more mellow tempered species in the crocodilian family, but that does not make them any less intimidating. Situated less than 20 minutes from Panama Ranger-led boat tours take visitors out on the river for about 45 minutes. Everglades National Park. If you are fond of dolphins, definitely go ahead and swim with them on Water Planet in Panama City Beach. Bunnell. There, you can feed a live gator then work on your short game. River rapids, camping sites, and historical structures compose this outdoor recreational area. Composed of leftover land purchased by NASA for the Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island is home to more endangered species than anywhere else in America. A lot of bug spray! Bring water and wear clothing suitable for a couple of hours of outdoor activity. Lying across the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, Panama City Beach is a hotspot for vacationers, and its easy to see why. They thrive around Panama due to the tropical climate. Brandon. Im not sure when the last time you were on Shell Island, but we were just there a few weeks ago, and did NOT find one shell. Gatorland is not just a historic Florida attraction but an immersion into what this part of Central Florida used to be, a cypress swamp full of critters. It opened in 1968 after many years of arduous construction. Shell Island is a seven-mile island on the Florida Emerald Coast with picturesque white sand beaches. Fort Walton Beach. by Wyndham Vacation Rentals and it was perfectly located, plus had its own pool and a full kitchen. We provide private educational group tours that give you and your family the opportunity to get up-close and personal with our alligators and animals. If you want a break from the beautiful beaches, awaken your inner child at the Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Rifles are the most recommended firearm when it comes to hunting alligators. Geneva. Trip Advisor named it the nation's #1 beach in 2018. Hope weve helped you add more things to do in Panama City Beach! FL Gatorama is an iconic Florida roadside attraction that has been drawing gator-curious tourists since 1957. The whole crew is friendly and will make you feel safe all throughout the tour. 0:04. It is possible to get around by taxi, but that can get quite expensive (especially if you want to check all the things to do in Panama City Beach off this bucket list). We were fishing and he swam up on us, Niemiec said, Panama City News Herald reports. Their Panama City Beach site has three different missions to choose from, each with its unique story and mystery. Although alligator bite incidents resulting in serious injury are rare in Florida, the FWC recommends taking precautions when having fun in and around the water. This only includes your ride around the water to view the alligators and other animals in their habitat. No fuss, no muss. They call it Gator Lake for a reason! Males can Marco Island. In Florida, there is a big reason you cant do thatALLIGATORS! They provide sound mufflers to protect ears from the roar of the motor, and make it a point of getting riders as close as possible to alligators. We hear about them taking up residence on golf courses, ending up in swimming pools, even crawling up through your yard to knock on your front door. Talbot Islands. This hands-on experience with the American alligator is sure to make this a vacation youll never forget. Here are some of the best places to see alligators in Florida: The Shark Valley entrance to Everglades National Park is on U.S. 41 Tamiami Trail in Miami, and you're sure to see an abundance of alligators there. Micanopy. The only reference to alligators in the area comes from an article back in 2016. Get ready for your breath to be taken away with the spectacular view of Panama City Beach on board the 53-meter, Our transportation to the island was provided by. Panama City Beach Florida is more than pristine white sand beaches (though that is enough to bring you there, isnt it? Corkscrew can be enjoyed by traversing the 2.5-mile elevated boardwalk through pine flatwoods leading to the wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the worlds largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest. Lakeland. Deland. Its short, and the alligators are right there: hard to miss, Boynton Beach(26.498420, -80.212604), At the edge of Boynton Beach, where historic farmlands have given way to subdivisions, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a 145,000 acre buffer between suburbia and the Everglades. specializes in fruit wines and is the only registered citrus winery in the United States. Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Weeki Wachee. Just go do it. An alligator was photographed crawling out of the ocean at a Florida beach over the weekend. Alligators, lizards, turtles, pygmy goats,coyotes, and other farm animals more. I was there a couple years ago and found many. Even if you dont stay in the lodge, stroll through the lobby and check out Old Joe, an 11-foot taxidermy gator, shot dead by a poacher in 1966. 850-527-1383 to schedule your private tour, Serving Chipley, Panama Beach City, FL and all surrounding areas, If youre looking for fun places to go in Panama City Beach, stop by Orange Hill Gator Farm in Chipley, FL! Spring Hill. Their blackberry wine literally has four pounds of blackberries in every bottle! Has three different missions to choose from, each with its unique story and mystery experience Island. 13 feet long and weigh 800 pounds, with the American alligator sure. To fresh slow-moving waters in rivers and lakes Botanical Conservatory true family adventure before hitting the Beach, other... 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